5 indicted in $6M food stamp fraud case

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -

Five people have been indicted in connection with a $6 million food stamp fraud scheme.

Tunisia Woodward, 37, of Atlanta, Rashella Reed, 40, of Riverdale, John Hood, 37, of Atlanta, Jason Boddie, 20, of Atlanta, and Derrick Robinson, 40, of Riverdale were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia.

Woodward, Reed and Robinson were arraigned Wednesday.

They are accused of exchanging more than $6 million in government benefits and Women Infant and Children programs for cash.

The scheme involved 13 stores in Savannah, August and Atlanta.

An earlier indictment was returned in July against four other defendants also alleged to have engaged in the conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"These defendants are alleged to have illegally trafficked in food stamp and WIC benefits in a conspiracy that spread across the state of Georgia and went on for well over a year. The indictment alleges that these defendants were trained to exchange food stamp and WIC benefits from recipients for cash. The U.S. Attorney's Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting complex financial fraud, especially when it attacks government programs paid for by taxpayers of the United States," U.S. Attorney Edward J. Tarver said in a statement.

Woodward, Reed, Hood, Boddie and Robinson are charged with one count of conspiracy, which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.